By Debra Shein During 2024, OJMCHE’s Education department has extended the museum’s presence far beyond the Portland metro area. OJMCHE now reaches students and teachers in 75% of the counties in the state, including many in rural areas who would have no other way of “visiting” the museum. Here are some of the many ways …
Read MoreHistory Is Now: Help Us Tell the Story of What’s Happening Today By Debra Shein OJMCHE is looking for items to add to its artifacts and archives collections that will preserve a record of two key phenomena we’re witnessing in the present: 1. Local reactions to the Israel-Hamas War; 2. Regional manifestations of the current …
Read MoreOJMCHE is thrilled to announce that the popular Jewish deli Sweet Lorraine’s is expanding into the museum’s Lefty’s Café. The menu and hours can be found here. Co-owners Rachel Brashear and Aaron Tomasko share the Sweet Lorraine’s story: We are a small mom & pop restaurant serving a rotating menu of specialty handmade items. We …
Read MoreBy Debra Shein If you were on hand for OJMCHE’s recent relaunch of the Portland Jewish Film Festival, you may have spotted a new face among the staff — Mariah Berlanga-Shevchuk, the museum’s recently-hired Head of Public Engagement. One of the core organizers who worked tirelessly to make the festival such a resounding success, Mariah …
Read MoreDear Friends, As I retire as the director of OJMCHE I find myself filled with a heady blend of gratitude and nostalgia. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside so many of you, dedicated colleagues, passionate volunteers, and a steadfast community. Together we have committed to preserving the legacy of Oregon’s …
Read MoreSeventeen regional attractions have partnered to offer reciprocal admission to their members in 2024. This coming year, the program is excited to expand to now include three new attractions: Cannon Beach History Center, The Museum at Warm Springs, and Pittock Mansion. This reciprocal admission program, which had been running for seven years, was created as …
Read MoreBy Debra Shein In 1993, shortly after moving across the country from Boston to Portland, Anne LeVant Prahl joined the board of the then-nascent Oregon Jewish Museum (OJM), which had begun its life in 1989 as a “museum without walls” under the inspiration of Rabbi Joshua Stampfer. At the time, the fledgling organization borrowed exhibitions …
Read MoreBlending physical theatre with poetry and music, theatre dybbuk creates provocative new works that are exciting, and utterly singular live events. The company explores the rich world of Jewish history, building lyrical performances that illuminate the universal human experience for contemporary audiences. theater dybbuk is based in Los Angeles and while in Portland will be …
Read MoreJacob Wooten’s first official day on the floor at the Ron Tonkin Family Museum Shop saw hundreds of people flooding the museum as it was OJMCHE’s much-celebrated grand reopening back in June. Since then, visitors have come to appreciate Jacob’s particular flair and style for finding unique and beautiful pieces for the shop, whether it’s …
Read MoreOJMCHE is proud to again participate with programming, social media campaigns, and ongoing outreach. The monthlong celebration includes 200 educational centers, archives, libraries, museums, cultural, religious, advocacy, and government institutions offering people around the country the opportunity to discover nearly four centuries of American Jewish experience. This participation includes major public library systems, state history …
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